No fewer than 78 road construction companies have submitted bids for the construction of 13 roads totalling 65.10km being contracted by the World Bank co-sponsored by Ekiti State Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP).

Speaking in Ado Ekiti at the bid opening exercise for Backlog Maintenance and Rehabilitation of the 13 rural roads, the State Project Coordinator, Hon Sunday Adunmo promised a level playing field for all bidders; reassuring that the evaluation process will be transparent and fair to all.

Adunmo who stated that Ekiti RAAMP does not have a preferred contractor said the goal of RAAMP “is not only to select the most qualified contractor but also to uphold the integrity of the procurement process and safeguard the interests of Ekiti State and its citizens”.

He added that each bid would be carefully evaluated to ensure compliance with the specifications outlined in the tender documents.

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“I want to assure all bidders present here today that the evaluation process will be conducted with the utmost transparency, fairness, and due diligence. Be rest assured that we will provide a level playing field for all bidders. We have no preferred bidder but our preference is in any company that fulfils the conditions already stated in the advertisement and the bidding document. Our goal is not only to select the most qualified contractor but also to uphold the integrity of the procurement process and safeguard the interests of Ekiti State and its citizens. Each bid will therefore be carefully scrutinized to ensure compliance with the specifications outlined in the tender documents”, he said.

While noting that the roads to be constructed are “not mere lines on a map but lifelines for farmers” and rural dwellers, the Project Coordinator said provision of good road networks would encourage farmers to invest more time and resources on food production, especially as “the prices of food items have skyrocketed in the last few months”.

Adunmo who expressed satisfaction with the display of interest and commitment from the bidders said a pre-bid meeting was held to provide clarifications for the bidders on any identified grey areas.

Speaking on behalf of the bidders, the representative of Hirco Engineering and Craneburg Construction ltd, Mr Babajide Ilori commended Ekiti RAAMP for the transparent bid opening exercise.

He assured that the bidders would abide by the outcome of the evaluation process.

Also speaking, the representative of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) hailed the Project for its 100% compliance to the procurement process; stating that this would make bidders repose confidence in the process.

The representative of the Civil Society Organization, Mr Tayo Fabunmi also commended the process for being transparent and fair as two bidders who tried to submit after the stipulated time were disallowed based on the guidelines of the procurement process.
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The bid opening exercise which lasted over 5 hours was done in 7 different lots as advertised and was observed by the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Ebenezer Boluwade, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry who doubles as the Chairman of the State Project Monitoring Committee, Engr Gbenga Odesanmi; the representatives of the Bureau of Public Procurement, and a Civil Society Organization, CESFOD while representatives of the bidders were in attendance.